Michael j



M. J BURNS.

POLIGE SIGNAL.v

(No Model.)

No. 516,641. Patented Mar. 20, 1894.

INVENTEJR WITNEEEEE UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcn.

MICHAEL J. BURNS, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GAME- WVELL FIRE-ALARM AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

POLICE-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,641, dated March 20, 1894.

Application filed October 26, 1893. Serial No. 489,184. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL J. BURNs,a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Police-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a system of police signals, in which means are provided for IO sending to the central station signals of different kinds from any one ofa series of boxes located on the circuits radiating from the central station. Withasystem of this kind it has heretofore been common to provide for :5 sending signals of two different classes, one

class being known as duty calls and the other as emergency calls. It is so arranged that each box can be utilized to send in a number of calls of each class. The signals in the class of duty calls are those sent by the different officers using any box when they simply report their presence. Under the class of emergency calls, however, there are usually three or more, which may be sent in, and

they all indicate some special emergency.

For instance, it is possible to send signals indicating an ambulance call, a telephone call,

and either a slow or fast wagon call. To send any desired call from a box, excepting in 0 some cases the fast wagon call, it is only necessary for the officer to open the box, set the pointer at the desired signal, and then pull a lever to start the mechanism, but the fast wagon call in some cases is made by insert- 5 ing a key from outside the box with door closed. At the central station means are provided for receiving and distinguishing the different classes of calls.

My invention relates both to the transmit- 4o ting boxes and to the receiving apparatus. Under the present arrangements, whenever an emergency call is received at the central station which requires a wagon'to be sent out the proceedings are usually about as follows:

5 The apparatus for sending wagon calls from the central station or police office to the police stable consists of a gong and striker and a step-by-step box number indicator placed in the police stable and arranged in an open local circuit and a step-by-step transmitter, also included in said local circuit and placed in said police office or central station, said transmitter requiring that the person in charge thereof shall first learn the number of the signal box from which the call was sent, turn an index-finger to the same number, on the dialot' a transmitter and then press a lever by hand to close the circuit. But usually no particular person has exclusive charge of the register and the call from the central station to the stable is sent by the officer who happens to be nearest the transmitter, so that there is sometimes a consider able delay after a wagon call is received beforethe wagon driver is notified. This time is spent by the officer in stopping the alarm or bell, learning the nature of the call, and getting the number of the signal box which sent it in. When the wagon driver receives the signal, he hitches his horseinto the wagon 7c and drives to the door of the station to receive the officers, whose business it is to go to the signaling sub-station. With the present system, it frequently happens that more time is consumed in getting the wagon to the police station door after a wagon call is received at the central station than is occupied in going from the central station to the sub-station from which the call was sent, a matter of very great importance in case of a riot or attempt to rescue a prisoner or assault upon an officer.

The object of my invention is to avoid the necessity for such delay by means of devices by which such calls as demandthe sending of the wagon shallbe automaticallyindicated at the stable as well as at the central station, and that there shall also be kept at the stable an automatic record of the call and hour of its reception, and the same signal also will open the stable door and ring an alarm. By this means the police signaling system will be reduced to the same degree of perfection as has been already attained in the fire alarm system wherein practically the first breakin 5 the circuit is used to release the horses in order that they may be ready to start from the engine house almost as soon asthe box number has been indicated.

' My invention is illustrated in the accom- IOO panying sheet of drawings in which is illustrated diagrammatically the apparatus and circuits for a local station A, the central station B, and the stable 0 respectively. The local stationA is one of a number of similar stations A, A A &c., located upon a circuit extending to the central station. The circuit contains two distinct metallic lines a, b, and the apparatus at the local station is for the most part of well known construction and particularly used at the present time for sending different classes of signals, and known as a multiple signal box. I have selected for illustration the form of multiple signal box usually employed by the Gamewell Fire Alarm and Telegraph Oompan y, the principal features of which are well known so that it will not be difficult to understand the additions which I have made to a signal box of this kind. It will also be possible for any one skilled in the art to adapt my invention to other kinds of boxes.

The two classes of signals generally em- 'ployed are known as duty calls and emergency calls. The former being those sent by an officer when reporting and the other being employed when it is necessary to telephone to the central station or to have an ambulance or patrol wagon summoned. In the Gamewell signal box, as is well known, it is necessary for the oiiicer in sending the call to turn a pointer to the desired call and then pull the releasing hook. To give the fast wagon call, it is only necessary to insert a special key known as a citizens key from the outside of the box and turn it, it being unnecessary to open the door of the box as in other signals. The object of this is to make it possible for a citizen having a citizens key to send the fast wagon call by simply turning the key in the lock.

Referring to the drawing of the local station apparatus, D is the break wheel for giving the number of the box, and E is the contact spring bearing upon the periphery of the wheel.

F is the notched wheel connected with the pointer on the outside of the inclosing case, which is turned by the oificer in sending the signal. This wheel I will refer to as the pointer wheel, the purpose of this wheel, as is well known, being to produce the breaks in the circuit which indicate the character of the call, while the break wheel D gives the box number. The turning of the pointer wheel to any desired degree determines the character of the call.

H is a lever having at one end a friction wheel bearing on the periphery of the pointer wheel so as to be oscillated by the notches thereon. Upon the other end of lever H is a contact springp bearing against the anvil K. The contact spring and anvil are brought into the main line by suitable circuits, and the contact broken between them by the oscillations of lever II occasioned by the notches in the periphery of the pointer wheel, the number of the oscillations being determined by the number of notches which act upon the lever. The break wheel D is operated in the usual manner by a clock train, and it in turn moves the pointer wheel by the engagement of a toothed sector cl with corresponding teeth 0 on the periphery of the latter wheel. If, therefore, the pointer wheel is turned to the left in the direction of the small arrow by the officer in setting the pointer, and break wheel D is then released, the rotation of the latter will rotate the former to a degree determined by the position at which it has been set, and thereby produce a certain number of breaks in the main line between anvil K and the contact spring 1), and after these breaks have occurred, the continued rotation of D will add the box number to the signal. This in general is the method of operation of the box, but there are a number of changes in the circuits, some of which are provided in carrying out the improvements which I have made to the box, and others of which pertain to the box as it has been heretofore used.

For sending the fast wagon call the pointer wheel is not used as the springs controlled by cams O, O and those controlled by lever P are arranged to send this signal. It consists of a long break followed by the box number. This call is sent while the door is shut by inserting a key in the lock, which when turned releases the clock train and as the lineis then under the control of the contact springs the signal consists as aforesaid of a long dash followed by the box number to be sent. I have found it necessary to add additional contact springs which are acted upon by the multiple lever P by means of which the signal will be sent mainly over line a, but will be accompanied by a momentary break in line b including the loop for that part of the circuit which goes to the stable. Previously all of the duty calls were sent on the line a only, the line I) being reserved principally for telephonic purposes. For emergency calls, however, a momentary impulse has been sent over part of the line b to operate the hell, by the ringing of which emergency calls are distinguished, and to carry out my invention I have provided that a similar momentary use shall be made of all the line 1') whenever a wagon call is to be sent. Thus as the line 1) includes also a relay at the stable, this relay provides the means by which the wagon calls only are received at the stable.

Taking up now the details of the invention, the normal condition of the circuits and apparatus will be described, and also the several conditions under which it is operated.

At the central station X is the main relay, Z is a battery upon line a, and Yisa smaller battery upon line b. The local register magnet V (and at times the stable magnet U as well) is controlled by the main relay X, and the circuit of bell magnet V is also controlled by the main relay magnet. The stableOcontains a relay magnet U which is included in the line b by a loop 1). This magnet U controls the local door magnet T, and the intermediate local relay magnet S which in turn controls the circuit of the local register magnet U. i

At the local station A there is a normal shortcircuit around the whole apparatus maintained closed by the spring R resting upon the toothed sector d, which is at once broken by the movement of the mechanism. This short-circuit is from the terminal a to spring E, to wheel D, to sector d, to'spring R, point 4, to point 5, to terminal a As this short-circuit is immediately interrupted it will be hereinafter disregarded in the description of the apparatus. The normal circuit (the short-circuit being broken) is from terminal a to spring E, to break wheel D, to contact spring 10, to anvil K, to contact spring 0, p, to terminal (1 If, under these circumstances, the train is released the box number only will be sent in, the circuit being interrupted by the notches in the break wheel passing under spring E. This callmay be used and in fact generally is used by officer number one. If, however, the pointer Wheel is previously turned so that the friction wheel of lever H rests in the second notch instead of the first notch, and the mechanism is then released the toothed sector 61 will engage with the teeth 0 and return the pointer wheel to its normal position, thereby giving one oscillation of lever H and oneinterruption of the circuit between 10 and K. The box number will then follow in the usual manner. This may be used and generally is used as the duty call of officer number two. In the same manner the pointer wheel can be turned one notch farther and a third duty call sent which may be used by officer number three. If, however, the pointer Wheel shall be turned still farther so that the friction wheel rests in the fourth notch the arm L will come in confact with the spring e and force it into contact with the spring f. These contact springs e and f will be momentarily closed during the time that the first lug on the corner of arm L is in contact with the spring 6 and at the same moment the pin N will force the springs kand Ztogether and the leverH will break the circuit between 19 and K. There will thus be a momentary circuit including part of the line a and part of the line b as follows: from battery Z to point 5, to point 4, to springs Zr, Z, to springs e, f, to point 6,'to terminal b to line b, to bell magnet W, armature relayX (this armature being retracted because the main line is interrupted between 13 and K) to the opposite terminal of battery Z. This circuit of course is only momentary, but it is maintained suiiiciently to draw up the armature of hell magnet W which is thereupon latched and held in position to cause a continuous ringing of bell Q. The same break in the main line is recorded by the register magnet V and there follow two more breaks caused by the notches in the pointer wheel acting on lever H, and after that the box number. To describe'this sent, but it differs from the telephone call in that there are four instead of three breaks.

The next signal is the slow wagon call which is made by moving the pointer wheel a still greater distance. This call is the first of those which under'my arrangement are sent to the stable. This call will be accompanied by the ringing of the bell W in the same manner as the telephone call and the ambulance call, but it is difierent from the others as the register starts before the bell rings. The pointer wheel for this call is moved so far that the pin M is brought into contact with the spring It so as to break its connection with the spring 9. It may be noted in this connection that the lever O which starts the mechanism of the box always engages with the pin on spring m,but this has been of no effect in connection with the previous signals because the circuit has still been maintained by connection between springs g and h, but as this latter connection is now broken for a slow wagon call by the pin M the separation of springs m and it becomes efiective and breaking line I) releases armature of magnet U. The effect on the magnet U will be momentary, but the armature of the magnet will break the circuit of T, close the circuit of' magnet S, and the latter will close a short-circuit through itself and also close a circuit through the register magnet U which will be a branch of the same circuit which passes through the magnet V. The result is that all of the breaks which affect the main relay magnet X will be reproduced on the central station register magnet V and the stable register magnet U. After the signal has been completed the clock work of the stable register which feeds the paper will interrupt the circuit of magnet S at S, and restore the parts to their normal condition. To trace this out in detail it must be remembered that the same operations are performed as in the case of a telephone or ambulance call, the only difference being that the springs g and h are separated by setting the pointer wheel before the springs e and f, and the springs Z and 7c are closed, as the former are closed by the return movement of armL and the latter by movement of the train. The pulling of the hook to start the mechanism also opens the contact between m and n in order to make effective the opening between g and h. The only object of this latter feature being to prevent any accidental sending of a slow wagon call by opening the springs g and 7?. only, that is, an officer can turn the pointer wheel far enough to cause the pin to separate the springs g and h,but that in itself will not send a signal, and if he should change his mind for any reason he can turnthe pointer back and no result will be secured. If, however, he should proceed to pull the releasing hook he would open the springs m and it when the slow wagon call would go in. The main line a will have its circuit exactly as in the telephone and ambulance calls, namely from the terminal a to spring 29, to anvil K, to springs 0, p, to terminal a It will be remembered that for the telephone and ambulance calls there is established a branch of the circuit just described, starting from point 5, thence to point 4, to point 7, to springs is, Z, to springs e, f, to point 6, to terminal b to line b, to bell magnet WV, to the opposite terminal of battery Z. This branch followed a portion of the line b from the point 6, to the point 8, and thus did not include the battery Y. The remaining part of the circuit b which did include the battery Y extended (during telephone and ambulance calls) from battery Y to point 8, to point 6, to the spring on and to spring R, either by direct contact or when direct contact is interrupted from the springm tothe spring i, spring j, springs g, h to the spring at, and thence by the terminal b through the line to the stable relay U to the opposite terminal of battery Y. This circuit, it will be observed, is always closed holding the armature of magnet U in its retracted position, but with the slow wagon signal this circuit is interrupted at springs g, h, when the pin M comes in contact with the latter spring, and the efiect of this break has been already described. It may be added, however, that the retraction of the armature of relay magnet U opens the circuit of magnet T thereby releasing latching lever T, which in turn releases the return lever T which holds up the weight W and when this weight is released it acts through an elbow lever to throw the rod X which acts through another elbow lever upon the latch X of the stable door. The opening of the stable door closes the circuit of bell V and allows the horses to go to the wagon. As has been before stated the dropping of relay magnet U also closes the circuit of magnet S through local battery S The attraction of the armature of magnet S closes a second local circuit from the battery S and the contact springs S to the point 9 and the magnet S to the opposite terminal of the battery. This circuit is maintained closed until the rotation of the feeding rolls of the register opens the contact between spring S for a moment when the parts are restored to the condition shown in the drawings. So long as the magnet S retains its armature a branch circuit from the battery V is maintained through the register magnet U at the stable so that the stable register and the central station register are both controlled by the main relay magnet X. Just as in the telephone and ambulance calls so in the slow wagon call there follows a number of breaks produced by the notches in the pointer wheel and lastly the box number, all of which are recorded both at the central station and at the stable.

The last call provided for is what is known as the fast wagon call. For this call the pointer wheel is not turned, but the door of the box is left closed so as to bear against pin P and force the spring lever P inward so as to come into the path of cam O. The turning of the key then depresses lever P by the agency of cam O and releases the box mechanism by the arm 0. The lever P remains depressed while the calling lever or arm 0 and the cam O are returned gradually to their normal positions by the running of the train, and while it is depressed it holds the circuit open between springs t, j and springs 0, p, but holds the circuit closed between the springs y and z. The springs 0, and p when closed short-circuit the springs to and o, but when opened by lever P the short-circuit is broken and thus the separation of springs to and o by means of cam C will break the main circuit which will remain broken so long as cam is in contact with spring 1). The circuit which is thus broken is from terminal a to spring E, break wheel D, contact spring 19, anvil K, springs to and 1), point 4, point 5 to terminal a This break in the main line causes a long dash to be recorded at the central station which is the distinguishing signal for a fast wagon call. Immediately upon the occurrence of the break the spring '0 is forced into contact with spring at, and the latter is then forced away from the former by cam O. The effect of this is to close a momentary branch circuit from the spring 1; to the spring a: to springs y and 2 (which are now in contact) to point 6,to line I), point 8, to bell magnet NV and to the opposite terminal of main line battery Z. This rings the bell to indicate an emergency signal. The stable relay is operated exactly as in the previous call except that the short circuit around springs m and n, which was in the former case interrupted at the spring 9 and h, is now interrupted at the springs i and j. This will be readily understood, but to make it clearer, the circuit may be traced as follows: from terminal 6 to spring 11, thence (when springs m and n are separated) to spring h to spring g, to springs j and t, where the break in the line occurs, to spring m to point 6, to terminal b thence by line b to point 8 to battery Y, to relay magnet U, line b to the starting point at terminal 5 The retraction of the armature of magnet U when the circuit is broken acts just as described above for a slow wagon call to set in operation the stable apparatus. It will thus be apparent in each instance where a wagon call is sent in that there is a momentary interruption of the circuit b, so as to bring into action the apparatus at the stable. It is observed that a portion of circuit 1) is also used at all of the calls except duty calls to energize the bell magnet W and thereby indicate that these are emergency calls requiring special attention. The same line b is moreover used as a telephone line over which communication can be had by means of the telephones after the proper call has been sent in. I have shown the telephones as placed in connection with the line by means of condensers in order that this function of the line may be utilized independently of its other functions.

I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate in detail the means by which the arm O'and the cam O are operated either by the releasing hook or the citizens key as in this respect the device does not differ from that employed in the Gamewell signal boxes. It is sufficient to say that both the arm 0 and the cam 0' are forced down by the hook or by the key then released and gradually return to thelr normal position.

It has been, I am aware, suggested that one or more individual signals may be received at some point outside the central station, but I believe that I am the first to provide means for transmitting a whole class of differentiated signals to a point outside of the central station without interfering with their distinguishingcharacteristics and to provide at the said point certain receiving apparatus responding to all signals of the class in common and other receiving apparatus responding diiferently to the responsive signals.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a signal system the combination with one or more transmitters adapted to send signals having individual characteristics, of a central station, receiving apparatus thereat responding to the respective signals, means responding to the respective signals, means.

at each transmitter for distinguishing two or more signals as a class from the rest without changing their individual characteristics, a stable on the circuit, receiving apparatus thereat for the said two or more signals distinguished as a class, which apparatus responds differently to the respective signals in accordance with their individual characteristics, and additional receiving apparatus at the stable responding to all of the said distinguished signals in common, which additional apparatus moreover controls releasing devices for the horses.

3. In a signal system the combination with one or more transmitters adapted to send signals of different kinds including a wagon call, and connected to the central station by two lines, the calls being sent upon one of the two lines and the distinguishing signal upon the other, of a central station, apparatus therein for distinguishing and recording the different calls, astable included in the circuit of theline used for distinguishing signals and apparatus therein responding to the distinguishing signal for a wagon call.

4t. In a signal system the combination with one or more transmitters, two lines connecting the said transmitters with a central station, a relay at the central station in one line and a relay at an outlying stable placed in the other line, with recording apparatus at the stable controlledby the relay inthe first line, and means at each transmitter for sending different signals on the first line, anda distinguishingimpulse for one or more signals upon the other line. s

5. In a signal system the combination with onevor more transmitters adapted to sendsignals of diiferent kinds including a wagon call, of a central station and apparatus therein for distinguishing and recording the difierent calls, two circuits including-the several transmitters and the central station, astable and a loop extending thereto from the one of the said circuits which is used for the signaldis tinguishing the wagon call.

6. In a signal system the combination with one or more transmitters adapted to send signals of different kinds including a wagon call, a distinguishing circuit for said call of a central station, apparatus therein consisting of a recording relay, a stable included in the circuit used for the signal which distinguishes the wagon call, a magnet in the said circuit at the stable, and a branch from the local recording circuit at the central office extending to the stable and controlled by the said magnet.

i 7. In a signal system the combination of a central station, receiving apparatus therein, two circuits extending therefrom, one or more transmitters adapted to send upon one circuit signals of difierent kinds produced by definite combinations of breaks, a circuit closer with each transmitter having its opposite parts connected to the respective circuits whereby a distinguishing signal can be sent over the other of the two said circuits, a circuit breaker in the latter circuit, a stable on said latter circuit and a relay therein controlled by the said circuit breaker.

8. The combination with a central station, receiving apparatus therein for distinguishing and recording different kinds of signals, two circuits extending therefrom, a stable on one of said circuits, a relay therein and one or more transmitters on the said two circuits for sending duty and emergency signals, each transmitter including a circuit breaker in one circuit for sending signals therein, a circuit closer for momentarily establishing a connection between the two circuits to indicate an emergency call, anda circuit breaker in the other circuit for distinguishing wagon calls and controlling the relay at the stable.

9. In a signal system the combination with ICC one or more transmitters adapted to send signals of difierent kinds including a Wagon call, of a central station and apparatus therein for receiving the respective calls, two cir cults connecting the said. transmitters and central station, one circuit being employed to send signals-composed of several breaks, and the other circuit being momentarily employed to distinguish emergency calls and wagon calls, a stable and receiving apparatus therein including horse-releasing devices and a loop connecting the stable with the said distinguishing circuit whereby the said receivlug apparatus thereatmay be set into operatron by the momentary wagon-call signal on said circuit.

10.- The above described receiving apparatusfor a multiple signalsystem consisting of a central station relay magnet, a recorder responding to all signals, andabell responding only to emergency calls, the said bell and recorderbeinglocated atthecentral station, with a stable receiving relay responding to wagon calls, a recorder responding differently to the respective wagon calls, and horse-releasing devices responding to all wagon calls.

11. The above described receiving apparatus for a multiple signal system consisting of a central station relay, recorder and bell and a stable relay and recorder, the said stable relay responding to wagon calls and controlling the circuit of the said stable recorder which circuit is moreover controlled by the central station relay, together with horse releasing devices at the stable controlled by the stable relay.

12. In a signal system the combination with one or more transmitters and two lines connecting the same with the central station of a circuit breaker at each station located in one line for sending the diiferent signals over the said line, a battery in each line and circuit controllers at each transmitter for sending distinguishing signals over a part of one line from the battery of the other line and for sending a second distinguishing impulse for a signal over the whole of one line, while the signal itself is sent over the other line.

13. In a signal system with one or more transmitters adapted to send signals of different kinds including telephone calls, the combination of two lines connecting the said transmitters with the central station, one of said lines being a signaling line over which the different signals are transmitted, the other line being a telephone line, but provided with means for sending thereover a distinguishing impulse for emergency calls, and a different distinguishing impulse for Wagon calls.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand this Zetth day of October, 1893.

MICHAEL J. BURNS. lVitnesses:

N. F. HAYES, A. O. ORNE. 

